USCALI223-1

Calibrachoa

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: USCALI48 (Superbells Pink Kiss) and KLEC04088 (MiniFamous Dark Pink + Eye)

Summary: The plants of 'USCALI223-1' are taller than those of 'KLEC04088'. 'USCALI223-1' has a larger corolla diameter than 'KLEC04088'. The secondary colour on the upper side of the corolla of 'USCALI223-1' is more prominent than that of 'USCALI48'. 'USCALI223-1' is white with purple secondary veining on the upper side of the corolla while 'KLEC04088' is blue pink. The lower side of the corolla on 'USCALI223-1' is white with violet around the veins and apex area while 'USCALI48' is only white and 'KLEC04088' is light blue pink with dark red/purple around the mid-veins. 'USCALI223-1' has purple veins while 'KLEC04088' has red veins. The undulation of the margin on the corolla lobes of 'USCALI223-1' is strong while it is medium for both reference varieties. 'USCALI223-1' has a longer corolla tube than both reference varieties. 'USCALI223-1' has weaker conspicuousness of veins on the inner side of the corolla than 'USCALI48' and 'KLEC04088'.

Description:

PLANT: mounding growth habit, tall to very tall, medium to broad
SHOOT: medium thickness, medium length, absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration

LEAF BLADE: short to medium length, narrow, elliptic and obovate, broad acute apex, no variegation, medium green on upper side
PETIOLE: very short to short

SEPAL: medium to long, medium width, elliptic and rhombic, absent to very weak anthocyanin colouration
FLOWER: single type, funnel form, short to medium pedicel length
COROLLA: large to very large diameter, medium degree of lobing, two colours on upper side
COROLLA LOBE: upper side is white with pink secondary veins and red purple changing to dark violet at area of transition to corolla tube, weak to medium conspicuous purple veins on upper side, white with violet around veins and apex area of lower side, strong undulation of margin
COROLLA TUBE: long, light blue violet and yellow on inner side, weak conspicuousness of veins on inner side
ANTHER: yellow before pollen dehiscence, yellow after pollen dehiscence

Origin & Breeding History: 'USCALI223-1' originated from a controlled cross between the female parent 'CJ03-071' and the male parent 'CJ03-087'. The cross took place on April 16, 2003 in Hikone, Shiga, Japan. The new Calibrachoa was selected as a single plant from the resultant progeny on June 4, 2004 in Gensingen, Germany and was then propagated by vegetative cuttings. 'USCALI223-1' was selected based on a semi-upright growth habit, heat tolerance, flower size and resistance to Thielaviopsis.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'USCALI223-1' were conducted during the summer of 2007, in a polyhouse, in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included 20 plants each of the candidate and reference varieties. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings and transplanted into 30 cm hanging baskets on May 1, 2007. Each basket contained 4 cuttings with a total of 5 baskets per variety. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants of each variety (except plant height where 5 plants were measured) on July 6, 2007. All colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'USCALI223-1' with reference varieties USCALI48 and KLEC04088

Plant height (cm)

Corolla diameter (cm)

Main colour of corolla lobe (RHS)

Secondary colour of corolla lobe (RHS)

Corolla tube length (mm)

Click on image for larger view

Calibrachoa: 'USCALI223-1' (left) with reference varieties 'USCALI48' (center) and 'KLEC04088' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Calibrachoa: 'USCALI223-1' (left) with reference varieties 'USCALI48' (center) and 'KLEC04088' (right)